Shortly before my college graduation, I told myself I would work for one of the companies in Makati. Right after graduation, I went on to work at the province. But as time passed, I found myself working in Makati, walking along the vast sidewalks of Ayala Ave., wearing corporate skirts and dresses, and being sucked in by the mass number of people working in this city.
To me, add the yellow cabs and the cool weather, it seems to be a picture of what life would be if I worked in one of the major cities like New York. Now I know you would beg to disagree and point out many differences but indulge me on this. Working is Makati is, for me, like working in New York.
I like how fast paced everything is and how corporate and professional everyone are. It’s not my ideal way to live, don’t get me wrong. I intend to settle back in the provinces by the time I settle down with my own family but since that is still a few years off, I might as well enjoy the single life being in a top notch corporate business center.
I like how despite the high rise buildings and the corporately-clad mass of people, there are parks in conveniently nestled in between. Parks that provide a sense of nature, a breath of some “fresh air” and a source of relaxation. I have yet to do one of the most popular activities in these parks which is to jog.
I also like how, despite the high cost of living here, there are cheap and alternative options provided as well. For me Makati then becomes a melting pot of the affordable which I can have on most days and the pricey and aspirational which I can have on some days.
I like the most the discipline present in everyone. There are dedicated loading and unloading stations, underpasses and pedestrian walkways. Everyone walking around is bent on a mission – survive another workday. It even feels as if there is a dress code everyone must adhere to – professional, business formal or casual, no slippers, maybe even sneakers.
The Makati Central Business District where major avenues like Buendia, Ayala, Paseo and Makati converge is like a giant machine of corporate individuals – coming to work day in and day out. With many from far off places like Bulacan and Cavite or other cities in the metro like Quezon City and Las Piñas. I am fortunate enough to have found a place near my office so I can just walk everyday to the office and back. But for these people who have to brave the bus or the MRT just to come to work – I must say, it is no ordinary feat on their end. I admire them for it but at the same time I pity them especially if this is how they see themselves living within the next 20 to 30 years – worse, even until retirement.
But there is hope. I don’t want to end this post on a negative note so let me instead reveal my plan whose fulfillment I hope to capture in my subsequent, and hopefully, regular posts.
I plan to go back to the province and settle down for good in a span of 3 to 5 years. Within that time, I plan to have saved enough to start my own business and will have established my financial foundation to last me even way beyond my generation. They say from the moment you graduate in college to the next 5 years you are on experiment mode where you experiment with what you want and learn the harsh reality of adult life. From that time forwards, you begin to seriously prepare for the future, not just yours, but your children as well. And if you can even secure the future of your grandchildren till until several generations forth, then you are extremely blessed.
So how do I go about the next 3 to 5 years? Simple. I have increased my financial knowledge in the past 2 years and have gained sufficient experience (made mistakes and a lot of!) in the last 5 years. Now is the time I start applying the real concepts I have learned and to mitigate the mistakes I made. So we are talking about building my financial foundation. I tried opening a separate blog on this topic but figured it is much easier to write from one blog so here I am.
What to expect in my upcoming posts? Stories about my financial journey with some concepts I’ve applied which I’ll share. Reviews about the places I’ve been to especially the restos I ate at. Metro Manila life and the occasional out-of-town travels I make.
Exciting right? Now I do hope I get to sustain my blogging enthusiasm.
